With all the cold weather we have been experiencing, you’re not the only one seeking shelter inside your home. Rodents are also looking for a warm place like our homes to escape the winter chill. Unfortunately, these small pests can cause more than just a headache for homeowners if they gain entrance inside.

Rodents can contaminate food sources and serve as carriers of many diseases, such as salmonella and the potentially fatal Hantavirus. Mice and rats can cause serious structural damage by chewing through insulation, wallboards, wood and electrical wiring.”es, such as

It’s much easier to prevent an infestation than to get rid of pests after they’ve found a cozy retreat inside the home. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recommends the following tips to keep homes rodent-free this winter:

• Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including areas where utilities and pipes enter, using caulk, steel wool or a combination of both.
• Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation and windows.
• Screen vents and openings to chimneys.
• Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly.
• Inspect items such as boxes, grocery bags and other packages brought into the home.

Be on the lookout for signs of an infestation, and if you find rodent feces or hear sounds of scurrying in the walls, contact Johnson Pest Control for a free home inspection.

 

As the Holidays approach and you start to bring in boxed up decorations and freshly cut Christmas trees, this creates the opportunity for pest to come into your home. Ants and spiders can easily hide in the branches of trees and crevices of firewood, while mice can chew through cardboard boxes of decorations that have been stored away since last season. Not only are these pest a nuisance but they can also be a health hazard to you and your family. To avoid a pest infestation when decorating for the holidays follow these steps:

• Inspect live, fresh cut evergreen trees, wreathes and garlands for spiders, insect nests or eggs before purchasing. Shake greenery outdoors to remove any pests before bringing them inside.
• Unpack decorations outdoors so pests aren’t released into the home. Repack decorations in durable, sealed containers that pests can’t chew through.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home on a raised structure, such as concrete blocks or poles.

If you expect a pest infestation in your home, contact Johnson Pest Control to inspect, identify and treat the problem.

Rodents and spiders can cause more than just a scare for homeowners

Ghosts, goblins and witches won’t be the only creatures trying to spook homeowners this Halloween. Homeowners should be on the lookout for real-life ghoulish pests lurking around neighborhoods, including rodents and spiders.

As the temperature continues to drop, many of these creepy critters will seek respite from the winter chill – often within the confines our homes. Once inside, rodents and other pests can do more than just provide their fair share of scares. They are capable of contaminating food, spreading disease and posing a threat to our property.

Rodents can spread Salmonella and Hantavirus and create fire hazards by gnawing through electrical wires in the home, and some species of spiders can administer a painful bite when disturbed.

To keep these pests from haunting the house this Halloween, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recommends the following tips:

• Seal any cracks or crevices with caulk and steel wool. Pay special attention to holes in the structure that lead to dark secluded areas, like attics and belfries.
• Screen attic vents and openings to chimneys.
• Install door sweeps on exterior doors and repair damaged screens.
• Eliminate sources of moisture, especially in crawl spaces and basements
• Inspect items such as boxes, grocery bags and other packages brought into the home.
• Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly.

For more information on common household pests and how to protect your home call  Johnson Pest Control at 865-453-7587.

Summer is in full swing and many people are hitting the road and embarking on trips. As you check into your hotel or motel be sure to be on the lookout for bed bugs.

A recent study conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) found that bed bug infestations are on the rise in many places. In fact, 80% of pest professionals surveyed had treated bed bug infestations in hotels/motels in 2011.

Bed bugs can be found in places that people typically frequent during vacations, such as hotels and travelers can be more susceptible to encountering bed bugs and can unknowingly bring them home which leads to a full blown infestation.

Follow the following steps while traveling to remain bed bug-free on vacation:

• Thoroughly inspect the entire hotel room before unpacking and settling in, including behind the headboard and around the bottom of other furniture.
• Pull back the hotel bed sheets and inspect the mattress seams, particularly the corners, for telltale spots or stains.
• If any pests are spotted, notify management and change rooms immediately. Be sure your new room is not adjacent to the possibly infested room.
• Use a large plastic trash bag or a protective cover to store your luggage during your hotel stay.
• When you return home, inspect and vacuum your suitcases thoroughly before bringing them into the house. Consider using a garment hand steamer to steam your luggage, which will kill any bed bugs.
• Wash all your clothes – even the items not worn – in hot water.

If you suspect a bed bug infestation, contact Johnson Pest Control, your licensed pest professional to identify the species and recommend a course of treatment.

Summer is a popular season to spend time outdoors, but it’s also the prime time for an increase in pest presence, especially from stinging insects like wasps, yellow jackets and bees. Stinging insects are aggressive during the warmer months because they are busy preparing their queen for the winter ahead. They are often attracted to backyard barbeques and picnics, and frequently enter homes in search of food.

Follow these tips to prevent stings from insects this summer.

• Stinging insects send more than 500,000 people to the emergency room every year. They can swarm and sting en masse, which can be life threatening especially for anyone who has an allergic reaction.
• Unlike some stinging insect species, wasps are known for their unprovoked aggression. A single colony of wasps can contain more than 15,000 members, so an infestation should not be taken lightly.
• Common nesting sites include under eaves, on ceiling beams in attics, garages and sheds and under porches. Some stinging insects can build their nests in the ground, including yellowjackets and velvet ants (which are actually a species of wasps). Over-seeding the yard provides more coverage and discourages these pests from nesting around the property.
• Painting or staining untreated wood in fences, decks, swing sets and soffits will help keep stinging insects such as carpenter bees out. Carpenter bees create nests by drilling tunnels into soft wood, which can severely compromise the stability of a structure over time.
• Only female carpenter bees have stingers. Female carpenter bees will only sting if threatened, but reactions to these stings can range from mild irritation to life-threatening respiratory distress.

Homeowners should frequently inspect the property for signs of a stinging insect. Attempting to remove a bee or wasp nest on your own can be extremely dangerous, if you find a nest on your home r property call Johnson Pest Control at 865-453-7587.

As the days become longer and the temperatures warm up spring is just around the corner. With the warmth of spring, bugs that overwintered will be emerging. Among these pests is the brown marmorated stink bug.

Stink bugs are brown, grey or dark green, triangular in shape and are usually around 3/4 of an inch to 1 inch in length. They have alternating light bands on the antennae and dark bands on the thin outer edge of the abdomen.

Stink bugs frequently enter homes during the cooler months in search of a warm place to overwinter and then re-emerge in the spring once the weather starts to warm up. As they start to emerge homeowners may notice stink bugs on curtains, lampshades or other items inside your home. They like to gather in areas where the sunlight is prevelant.

Stink bugs can reak havoc on crops but they are not known to bite and do not pose any health threat to humans. They do however have a tendency to become a nuisance due to  invading homes in large numbers. In addition they have a habit of secreting a bad smelling fluid when disturbed or crushed, so caution should be used when handling them.

To Prevent stink bug infestation follow these steps:

•  Seal and caulk cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys and other openings.
•  Repair or replace damaged screens on windows or doors.
•  Replace outdoor lighting with yellow bulbs, which are less attractive to stink bugs and other pests.
•  If stink bugs have already entered a home, use a vacuum cleaner for their removal and dispose of the bag immediately to prevent odor from permeating the area.
•  If an infestation develops, a licensed pest professional should be contacted to evaluate and assess the severity problem.
• Remember a licensed pest professional can pre-treat structures for stink bugs to prevent stink bugs before they become a problem.

For more information or if you are experiencing a problem with stinkbugs call Johnson Pest Control at 865-453-7587.

Protect Your Home From Termites
Termite prevention tips for homeowners

 Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner and as temperatures slowly begin to increase across the country, so will the potential for termite swarms. Now is the time for homeowners to take proactive steps to protect their homes from this aggressive pest species in the coming months.

Termites eat wood around the clock, so they can cause significant damage to the structure of a home in a relatively short period of time, as a result, it’s important for homeowners to perform yearly inspections and routine maintenance to help stave off a potential termite infestation.

There are many stepsyou can take to protect your greatest investments from termites.

• Carefully inspect the perimeter of the home for mud tubes (used by termites to reach a food source), cracked or bubbling paint and rotting wood.
• Repair fascia, soffits and rotted roof shingles. Some termites are drawn to deteriorating wood.
• Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
• Maintain a one-inch gap between soil and wood portions of the home.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and 5 inches up off the ground, and inspect it closely before bringing it indoors.
• Divert water away from the property through properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.

A pest professional will be able to properly identify the termite species and recommend an appropriate course of action.

 

For more information on termites or tp schedule a termite inspections call 865-453-7587.

Meet Us Before We Meet You

Safety & Security with a Technician Profile Appointment Confirmation Email

Johnson Pest Control now provides customers with an appointment confirmation email featuring our new technician profile. We let you know who will be arriving at your home before the appointment.

Now when customers call in to schedule an appointment we send out an email confirming the day and time of your appointment that includes a picture of your scheduled service technician as well as a picture of the representative you spoke with on the phone when you scheduled your appointment.   With Johnson Pest Control you can feel safe and secure knowing who will be knocking on your door.